Method of and apparatus for running equipment into and out of offshore wells



NOV. 26, 1968 R, RALPH ET AL 3,412,789

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RUNNING EQUIPMENT INTO AND OUT OF OFFSHORE WELLS Filed April 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS RUSSELL 6. RALPH, CLARENCE J. COBERLY BY THE/E ATTOEA/EYS HARE/5, K/EcH, RussELL 6: KER/V NOV. 26, 1968 R R P ET AL 3,412,789

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RUNNING EQUIPMENT INTO AND OUT OF OFFSHORE WELLS 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed April 12, 1965 FIG. 2. FIG. 4. /02

INVENTORS RUSSELL 6. RALPH, CLARENCE J. COBERLY BY THE/R A770RNEY5 HARE/5, K/EcH, Russ/51.1. & K52

United States Patent 3,412,789 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RUNNING EQUIPMENT INTO AND OUT OF OFFSHORE WELLS Russell G. Ralph, San Gabriel, and Clarence J. Coberly, San Marino, Calii, assignors to Kobe, Inc., Huntington Park, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 447,493 7 Claims. (Cl. 166-.6)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of running a free-fluid operated pump into and out of a submerged, offshore well, which involves transporting the pump between the surface of the water and the well head in a carrier capable of being connected to the well head so that the pump may be transferred from the carrier to the well, and vice versa. An apparatus for running the pump into and out of such a well which includes a movable carrier capable of containing and completely enclosing the pump and connectible to the well head in communication with the well, a system for guiding the carrier between the surface of the water and the well head, mechanism for connecting the carrier to the well head in communication with the well and for disconnecting it from the well head, and mechanism for transferring the pump between the carrier and the well.

Summary 0 the invention Summarizing the invention as embodied in an apparatus for running a fluid operated pump into and out of a well in a submerged, offshore location, it includes: a submerged well head surmounting the well and provided therethrough with a passage in register with the well; a tubing system in the well and connected to the well head and including a pump tubing of a size to slidably receive the pump therein for movement between the well head and an operating position in the well; the pump tubing being in register with the passage through the well head; a movable carrier connectible to the well head in register with the passage therethrough; means for guiding the carrier between the surface of the water and the well head; the carrier is being provided therein with a pump chamber which is capable of containing and completely enclosing the pump and which is in alignment with the pump tubing when the carrier is connected to the well head, so as to permit transferring the pump between the pump chamber and the pump tubing; means for connecting the carrier to the well head with the pump chamber in alignment with the pump tubing; and means for actuating the connecting means to connect the carrier to and to disconnect the carrier from the well head.

Background of the invention The present invention relates in general to a method of and an apparatus for running equipment of various types into and out of oil wells, and particularly completed oil wells, in locations which are either entirely inaccessible to personnel, or which do not provide normal accessibility.

More specifically, the invention is of particular utility in connection with submerged, offshore locations in water depths which do not generally permit the use of divers, although the invention may, of course, be utilized in shallower water.

A general object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for running production equipment, servicing equipment, and the like, into and out of a submerged, offshore well from a barge, boat, or the like, floating on the surface of the water above the well head.

Although various equipment may be run into and out of a submerged, ofishore well in accordance with the invention, this disclosure will be restricted to running a free, fluid operated pump into and out of the well hydraulically as a matter of convenience.

It is contemplated that the submerged, offshore well will have installed therein a tubing system and bottom hole assembly suitable for use with a free, fluid operated pump. The well may be completed with the tubing system and the bottom hole assembly contained in a casing and suspended from the well head in the usual manner. Alternatively, the well may involve a casingless completion having the tubing system and the bottom hole assembly cemented in place, as disclosed in Patent No. 2,939,533, granted June 7, 1960, to Clarence J. Coberly, one of the applicants herein. The tubing system may either be an open system, wherein the production fluid discharged by the pump and the spent operating fluid discharged thereby are conveyed to the well head through a common, production tubing, or it may be a closed system wherein the production fluid and the spent operating fluid are conveyed to the well head separately. In any event, one of the tubings of the tubing system in the well is a pump tubing of a size to slidably receive the free, fluid operated pump, the latter being hydraulically movable between the well head and an operating position in the bottom hole assembly in a manner which is well known in the art. Preferably, the production tubing constitutes the pump tubing so as to utilize as the production tubing the tubing which is normally the largest one in the system.

Objects of the invention fluid operated pump into and out of a submerged, offshore well which involves transporting the pump between the surface of the water and the well head in a carrier capable of being connected to the well head so that the pump may be transferred from the carrier to the pump tubing, and vice versa.

Another primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for running the pump into and out of the well which includes a movable carrier capable of containing and completely enclosing the pump and connectable to the well head in communication with the pump tubing, means for guiding the carrier between the surface of the water and the well head, means for connecting the carrier to the well head in communication with the pump tubing and for disconnecting it from the well head, and means for transferring the pump between the carrier and the pump tubing.

Another object is to provide an apparatus wherein the pump is transferred between the carrier and the pump tubing hydraulically, and is also circulated between the well head and its operating position in the bottom hole assembly hydraulically.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for connecting the carrier to the well head in register with a passage through the well head and in alignment with the pump tubing, and to provide valve means carried by the Well head for opening and closing such passage therethrough. With this construction, after the pump has been displaced upwardly from its operating position into the carrier in the course of running the pump out of the Well, the valve means mentioned may be closed prior to disconnecting the carrier from the well head, so as to isolate the well fnom the water in which it is submerged.

A further object is to provide a carrier having a pump chamber which is capable of containing and completely enclosing the pump and the lower end of which is aligned with the pump tubing and is adapted to be opened when the carrier is connected to the well head. With this construction, the pump can be transferred between the pump chamber in the carrier and the pump tubing in the well upon connection :of the carrier to the well head.

Another object is to provide an installation wherein the pump tubing is the production tubing and conducts the production fluid discharged by the pump when in its operating position in the bottom hole assembly, to the aforementioned passage through the well head, the production fluid flowing from such passage into a production fluid disposal line connected to the well head. The production fluid disposal line may lead to any suitable point of disposal for the production fluid, which disposal point may be an onshore point, or which may be any suitable offshore point, such as an island, a platform, a tanker anchorage, or the like.

Another object is to provide an installation wherein the tubing system in the well includes a supply tubing for conducting operating fluid under pressure, for actuating the fluid operated pump, downwardly in the well to the bottom hole assembly. This supply tubing receives operating fluid under pressure from an operating fluid supply line connected to the well head and extending to any suitable onshore or offshore source of operating fluid under pressure.

In the event that the installation comprises a closed tubing system, an operating fluid return tubing extends between the bottom hole assembly and the well head, and is connected to a suitable operating fluid return line which extends to the onshore or offshore supply station.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the offshore oil Well art in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiment of the invention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Description of the drawings In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a semidiagrammatic view, partially in elevation and partially in section, illustrating an offshore oil well completion which embodies the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a well head and pump carrier of the invention; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views respectively taken along the arrowed lines 33 and 44 of FIG. 2 of the drawings.

Description of the invention Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the numeral designates a submerged, offshore oil well which includes a bore 12 drilled into the ocean bottom 14. As will be discussed in more detail hereinafter, the well 10 may be produced from any suitable onshore or olfs'hore control station, not shown.

The well 10 is shown as including a surface casing set in the upper end of the bore 12 and having therein an inner casing 22. Fluid from the producing formation or formations into which the bore 12 is drilled may enter the inner casing in various ways. For example, the productive zone may be left uncased, where it is sufficiently consolidated to permit this, in which event the production fluid enters the inner casing 22 through its lower end. Alternatively, production fluid may enter the inner casing 22 through perforations therein, through a perforated liner, not shown, connected to the inner casing, or the like.

As best shown in FIG. 2, connected to the upper end of the surface casing 20 is a tubular well head 24, the inner casing 22 being suspended from and sealed relative to the well head by a suitable slip and sealing arrangement 26. Disposed in the inner casing 22 is a tubing system carried by a tubing head 32 suitably supported by an upper section 34 of the well head 24 in any suit- 4 able manner, as by being seated on an annular shoulder 36 therein.

In the particular construction illustrated, the tubing system 30 is a closed system composed of three tubings 40, 42 and 44. The tubing is of a size to slidably receive a conventional fluid operated pump 46 for move ment therethrough between the well head 24 and an operating position in a bottom hole assembly, not shown, at the lower end of the tubing system 30. In view of this function of the tubing 40, it will be referred to as a pump tubing hereinafter.

Preferably, the pump tubing 40 also serves as a production tubing for conveying production fluid discharged by the pump 46, when in its operating position in the well 10, upwardly to the well head 24. The upper end of the pump tubing 41) openly communicates with the lower end of an upright chamber or passage 48 in the upper section 34 of the well head 24. Connected to the well head 24, and communicating with the chamber 48 adjacent its lower end, is a production fluid disposal line 49. As will be discussed in more detail hereinafter, production fluid entering the chamber 48 from the pump tubing 40 flows into the line 49, which extends to any suitable onshore of offshore point of disposal for the production fluid.

The tubing 42 is a supply tubing for conveying operating fluid under pressure downwardly in the well 10 to the pump 46 to operate the pump when it is in its operating position, the spent operating fluid being returned to the well head 24 through the tubing 44. It will be understood that the fluid operated pump 46 is intended to be circulated hydraulically between its operating position in the well and the well head 24. A generally suitable fluid operated pump, and a bottom hole assembly suitable for use with the tubing system 30 to achieve the desired mode of operation, may be found in Patent No. 2,589,671, granted Mar. 18, 1952, to Clarence I. Coberly. The disclosure of this patent is incorporated herein by reference so that there is no need to specifically present its disclosure herein.

The pump tubing 40, which is the largest of the three tubings 40, 42 and 44, is shown as threadedly connected to the tubing head 32. The supply and return tubings 42 and 44 are provided at their upper ends with supply and return fittings seated on annular shoulders at the upper ends of parallel bores in the tubing head 32. The supply fitting is concealed in FIG. 2 by the return fitting, the latter being identified by the numeral 50. These supply and return fittings are provided with radial ports respectively communicating with lateral passages 52 and 54 in'the well head section 34. Connected to this well head section in communication with the supply and return passages 52 and 54 are supply and return lines 56 and 58, respectively. These lines extend to a suitable onshore or offshore control station, not shown. This control station may be at the same location as the disposal point for the production fluid, or it may be at a different location. At the control station, the supply line 56 is connected to a suitable source of operating fluid under pressure, such as a triplex pump, not shown. The return line 58 may discharge into an operating fluid reservoir, not shown, which supplies the triplex pump. The operating fluid, as is conventional, may be clean crude oil, although other fluids may be used.

The pump 46 is transported between the surface of the water and the well head 24 in a closed pump carrier 60 which is connectible to the well head with the pump in alignment with the pump tubing 40 so as to permit alignment with the pump tubing 4-0 when the carrier is inserted into the carrier chamber 48.

Considering the manner in which the pump carrier is guided for movement between the well head 24 and the surface of the water, the upper section 34 of the well head 24 is provided with an upwardly divergent funnel 64 which communicates at its lower end with the upper end of the carrier chamber 48 and which guides the lower end of the pump carrier into the carrier chamber when the pump 46 is being run in. Projecting upwardly from the guide funnel 64 are elongated guide posts 66, guide cables 68 of a length to extend to or above the surface of the water being connected to the upper ends of the guide posts. Connected to the upper end of the pump carrier 60 -is a guide plate 70 having openings 72 to receive the respective guide posts and guide cables 66 and 68. Slidable on the pump carrier 60 below the guide plate 70 is a floating guide plate 74 provided with openings 76 therein for the respective guide posts and cables 66 and 68. Normally, the floating guide plate 74 rests on an external annular flange 78 on the pump carrier 60 adjacent its lower end, as shown in FIG. 1. Under such conditions, the two guide plates 70 and 74 are spaced relatively far apart to provide proper guidance for the pump carrier. However, as shown in FIG. 2, when the lower end of the pump carrier 60 enters the carrier chamber 48, the floating guide plate 74 seats on the upper end of the funnel 64, the pump carrier thereafter moving downwardly through the floating guide plate as it is inserted into the carrier chamber 48. When the pump carrier 60 is withdrawn from the carrier chamber 48 again, as shown in FIG. 1, the floating guide plate 74 is once more seated on the annular flange 78 on the pump carrier.

Normally, the guide cables 68 are attached to a float 80, FIG. 1, which marks the location of the well 10 and which renders the guide cables accessible from a boat, barge, or the like, on the surface of the water. When the pump carrier 60 is being run in or out, however, the upper ends of the guide cables 68 may be connected to the barge or boat, as suggested in FIG. 1 by having the upper ends of the guide cables project above the surface of the water. The pump carrier 60 may be lowered from the surface into the carrier chamber 48, or raised to the surface, by means of a cable 82 attached to an eye 84 at the upper end of the pump carrier.

The pump carrier 60 is provided thereon with external annular seals 86 which engage the peripheral wall of the carrier chamber 48 to isolate the interior of such chamber from the water in which the well head 24 is submerged when the pump carrier is in the carrier chamber. When the pump carrier 60 is not in a position to isolate the carrier chamber 48 from the water, this function is performed by a valve means 90 carried by the upper section 34 of the well head 24. As will be discussed hereinafter, the valve means 90 is closed prior to complete withdrawal of the pump carrier 60 from the carrier chamber 48, and is not opened until the pump carrier is partially reinserted. With this procedure, contamination of the water in which the well 10 is submerged is minimized.

Considering the valve means 90 more specifically, it is shown as including a gate valve 92 spaced upwardly from the lower end of the carrier chamber 48 and movable transversely of the carrier chamber between an open position, shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and a closed position wherein it engages a seat 94 to isolate the upper end of the carrier chamber from the pump tubing 40 and the production fluid disposal line 49 in communication with the lower end of the carrier chamber. The gate valve 92 is adapted to be actuated by, i.e., moved between its open and closed positions, a piston 96 reciprocable in a cylinder 98 connected to the upper section 34 of the well head 24 in alignment with the valve seat 94, a piston rod 100 serving to connect the gate valve to the piston. The position of the piston 96, and thus the position of the gate valve 92, is controlled by a piston type, diflerential area,

four-way selector valve 102. This selector valve may be operated from the onshore or oflshore control station, as will now be described.

In the construction illustrated, the selector valve 102 is mounted on the end of the cylinder 98 remote from the piston rod 100 and includes a housing 104 containing a valve spool 106 having a piston 108 at one end, all as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The valve spool 106 is normally biased into the position in FIG. 4 by a compression spring 110 seated against the piston 108 and against the housing 104. The space or chamber in which the spring 110 is located has connected thereto a branch fluid line 112 leading to a fluid line 114 in communication with the production fluid disposal line 49. Thus, the spring chamber is at a. low pressure, relatively speaking, this pressure acting on one side of the piston 108. A control line 116 is adapted to apply to the other side of the piston 108 a fluid pressure sufliciently high to overcome the force of the spring 110 and the fluid pressure in the spring chamber, whereby to shift the valve spool 106, upwardly as viewed in FIG. 4, to a second operating position thereof. The control line 116 leads to the aforementioned control station.

When the valve spool 106 is in the operating position shown in FIG. 4, it connects a high pressure fluid line 118, which may originate at the control station, to a passage 120 leading to the left end of the cylinder 98, as viewed in the drawings. At the same time, the valve spool 106 connects the low pressure line 112 to a passage 122 leading to the right end of the cylinder 98. Under these conditions, the piston 96 is displaced to the right to close the valve means 90.

When the valve spool 106 is shifted to its other operating position by fluid pressure supplied through the control line 116, it connects the high pressure line 118 to the passage 122 leading to the right end of the cylinder 98, and connects the low pressure line 112 to the passage 120 leading to the left end of the cylinder, this latter connection being by way of a bypass line 124. The result is to displace the piston 96 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, thereby opening the valve means 90.

As previously indicated, the valve means 90 is closed prior to complete withdrawal of the pump carrier 60 from the carrier chamber 48 so as to minimize contamination of the water in which the well 10 is submerged, the manner in which this is accomplished being discussed hereinafter. Similarly, the valve means 90 is not opened until the pump carrier 60 is inserted into the carrier chamber 48 sutficiently for the external annular seals 86 on the carrier to isolate the lower end of the carrier chamber from the water. Consequently, it is necessary to keep water trapped in the carrier chamber 48 between the lower end of the pump carrier 60 and the closed valve means 90 from preventing insertion of the pump carrier into the carrier chamber.

Considering how the foregoing is accomplished, the gate valve 92 is provided therethrough with a passage means 126 which extends from the upper surface of the gate valve to the smaller end thereof. When the gate valve 92 is in its closed position, water trapped between the gate valve and the lower end of the pump carrier 60 may flow through the passage means 126 into a clearance at the smaller end of the valve seat 94, reversed flow being prevented by a check valve 130 in the passage means 126. From the clearance 128, the trapped water flows through a passage 132 into a port 134 connecting the lower end of the carrier chamber 48 to the production fluid disposal line 49. With this construction, fluid trapped between the lower end of the pump carrier 60 and the gate valve 92 escapes into the production fluid disposal line 49 to permit insertion of the pump carrier into the carrier chamber under the influence of gravity.

There are two vertically spaced operating positions for the pump carrier 60 within the carrier chamber 48, the lower operating position of the pump carrier being shown in FIG. 2. When the pump carrier 60 is in its upper operating position, the lower end thereof is disposed above the valve means 90. The reasons for these vertically spaced operating positions will be discussed hereinafter.

The invention provides a looking means 136, carried by the well head section 34 and insertable into an external annular groove 138 in the pump carrier 60, for locking the pump carrier in its lower operating position. The well head section 34 has mounted thereon another locking means 140 insertable into an external annular groove 142 in the pump carrier. The groove 138 is a narrow one to enable the locking means 136 to position the pump carrier 60 in its lower operating position accurately. However, the groove 142 is much wider than the groove 138, the width of the groove 142 being suflicient to permit the pump carrier 60 to move upwardly from its lower operating into its upper operating position without withdrawal of the locking means 140 therefrom. Thus, in order to permit upward displacement of the pump carrier 60 from its lower operating position to its upper operating position, it is merely necessary to withdraw the locking means 136 from the groove 138. Such upward movement of the pump carrier 60 may be produced by an upward force applied through the cable 82, or by the pressure of the production fluid discharged by the pump 46 acting on the lower end of the pump carrier when the pump is in operation in its operating position in the bottom hole assembly at the lower end of the tubing system 30.

The locking means 136 and 140 are identical so that only the latter will be considered in detail. As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the locking means 140 includes two diametrally opposed cylinders 144 oriented radially of the carrier chamber 48 and containing pistons 146 provided with coaxial plungers 148 disposed in plunger bores 150 and terminating in locking elements 152 insertable in the annual groove 142. Compression springs 154 engaging the pistons 146 and the outer ends of the cylinders 144 constantly bias the locking elements 152 inwardly. Communicating with the outer ends of the cylinders 144 are passages 156 which are connected to a fluid line 158 leading to the low pressure fluid line 114. Communicating with the inner ends of the cylinders 144 are passages 160 connected to a high pressure fluid line 162 leading to the control station. As will be apparent, when high pressure fluid is delivered to the inner ends of the cylinders 144 through the high pressure fluid line 162, the locking elements 152 are withdrawn from the annular groove 142.

As hereinbefore indicated, the locking means 136 is identical to the locking means 140 so that a full description is not required. Sutfice it to say that the locking means 136 has connected thereto a low pressure fluid line 164 leading to the low pressure fluid line 114, and has connected thereto a high pressure fluid line 166 leading to the control station. By applying high pressure fluid to the control line 166, the locking means 136 may be withdrawn from the groove 138.

The pump carrier 60 is locked in its lower operating position whenever it is desired to transfer the pump 46 from the pump chamber 62 to the pump tubing 40, or from the pump tubing to the pump chamber. Under such conditions, a valve 170 at the lower end of the pump chamber 62 is opened to permit movement of the pump 46 into and out of the pump chamber. The valve 170 is shown as a flap valve pivotally mounted within the pump carrier 60 for movement between open and closed positions. The valve 170 is spring biased toward its closed position, and is adapted to be opened by an actuator 172 engageable with the tubing head 32 when the pump carrier 60 is in its lower operating position. Upon upward movement of the pump carrier 60 out of its lower operating position, the valve 170 closes automatically, somewhat in the manner of a trap door. Consequently, then the pump carrier 60 is withdrawn from the carrier chamber 48, any oil in the pump chamber 62 is trapped by the valve 170 to prevent contamination of the water.

The pump carrier 60 is provided externally of the pump chamber 62 with a longitudinal passage 174 which communicates at its upper end with the upper end of the pump chamber thnough radial ports 176. When the pump carrier 60 is in its lower operating position, the lower end of the passage 174 communicates with the port 134 leading to the production fluid disposal line 49 through a passage 178 in the pump carrier. Plow through the passage 178 is controlled by a spool valve 180 which is biased downwardly toward a closed position by a spring 182. When the pump carrier 60 is in its lower operating position, a stem 184 on the spool valve 180 engages the tubing head 32 to open the passage 178 in opposition to the action of the spring 182. Collectively, the passage 178, the spool valve 180, the passage 174 and the ports 176 constitute a passage means 186 for placing the production fluid disposal line 49 in communication with the upper end of the pump chamber 62 when the pump carrier 60 is in its lower operating position. When the pump carrier 60 is moved upwardly out of its lower operating position, the spool valve 186 automatically closes the passage 178. This prevents the escape of oil from the pump carrier 60 into the water when the pump carrier is being moved upwardly to the surface.

The pump 46 includes the usual packer mandrel 188 having at its upper end a tapered nose 190 releasably engageable with a convenional pump catcher 192 carried by the pump carrier 60 at its upper end. The pump catcher 192 may comprise inwardly biased spring fingers which grip the tapered nose 190 to retain the pump 46 in the pump chamber 62, but which can be caused to release their grip upon application of sutlicient downward pressure above the pump. To prevent such downward pressure from bypassing the pump 46, the packer mandrel 188 includes an upwardly facing packer cup 194. Bypassing of the pump 46 by fluid pressure below the pump is prevented by downwardly facing packer cups 196.

Operation Considering the operation of the invention, running of the pump 46 into the well 10 will be considered first. Initially, the pump carrier 60, with the pump 46 therein in the position illustrated, is lowered from a boat or barge on the surface of the water above the well. During its downward movement, the pump carrier 60 is guided first by the cables 68, and then by the posts 66. Ultimately, the funnel 64 guides the lower end of the pump carrier 60 into the carrier chamber 48.

As the lower end of the pump carrier 60 enters the carrier chamber 48, water trapped between the pump carrier and the closed gate valve 92 is displaced into the production fluid disposal line 49 through the passage means 126, the clearance 128, the passage 132 and the port 134, the line 49 being open to permit this.

It will be understood that the two locking means 136 and are actuated into retracted positions initially to permit downward insertion of the pump carrier 60 into the carrier chamber 48. As soon as the pump carrier 60 has been inserted far enough that the lower edge of the groove 142 clears the locking means 140, the control pressure applied to this locking means may be released to permit insertion of such locking means into the groove 142. At this point, the gate valve 92 may be moved into its open position, in the manner hereinbefore discussed, to permit continued downward insertion of the pump carrier 60 under the influence of gravity. Ultimately, the pump carrier 60 reaches the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, whereupon the control pressure applied to the locking means 136 may be released to permit insertion of the locking elements 152 thereof into the annular groove 138. At this stage, all of the parts are in the positions shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the valves and having been opened by engagement of their actuators 172 and 184 with the tubing head 32.

Under the foregoing conditions, fluid under pressure from the control station is delivered to the production fluid disposal line 49 to apply downward pressure to the upper end of the pump 46 through the passage means 186. Such downward pressure disengages the pump 46 from the pump catcher 192 and results in downward circulation of the pump into and through the pump tubing 40 until the pump reaches its operating position in the bottom hole assembly at the lower end of the tubing system 30. The delivery of fluid under pressure to the production fluid disposal line 49 is then terminated.

The foregoing accomplished, the locking means 136 is actuated to cause it to disengage the pump carrier 60, whereupon the pump carrier is moved upwardly in the carrier chamber 48 sufliciently to clear the valve means 90. (This may be accomplished by means of the cable 82, or it may be accomplished by the production fluid pressure applied to the lower end of the pump carrier 60 upon subsequent operation of the pump 46.) It will be noted that the locking means 140 in the wide groove 142 permits upward movement of the pump carrier 60 into its upper operating position, wherein it clears the valve means 90, without completely releasing the pump carrier from the well head 24. This is important since it prevents inadvertent withdrawal of the pump carrier 60 from the carrier chamber 48 without first closing the valve means 90.

After the foregoing steps have been taken, the pump 46 is placed in operation by delivering operating fluid under pressure thereto through the supply line 56 and the supply tubing 42. The spent operating fluid is returned to the control station through the return tubing 44 and the return line 58, production fluid discharged by the pump being delivered to the desired disposal point through the pump tubing 40 and the production fluid disposal line 49.

It will be noted that since the pump carrier 60 is in its upper operating position during operation of the pump 46, the production fluid discharged by the pump can flow unobstructedly from the pump tubing 40 through the lower end of the carrier chamber 48 into the production fluid disposal line 49. In other words, it is not necessary for the production fluid discharged by the pump to reach the production fluid disposal line 49 by way of the pump chamber 62 and the passage means 186.

Although the pump carrier 60 may remain in its upper operating position in the carrier chamber 48 during operation of the pump 46, it will be understood that the pump carrier 60 may be withdrawn to the surface after closing the valve means 90 and withdrawing the locking means 140. This has the advantage of permitting the pump carrier 60 to be used to run another pump into or out of another submerged, offshore well, thereby reducing the number of pump carriers required for a particular field.

When it is desired to retrieve the pump 46 from its operating position in the bottom hole assembly at the lower end of the tubing system 30, the pump carrier 60 is placed in its lower operating position, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The pump 46 is then unseated in the usual manner by a downward flow of fluid under pressure through the return tubing 44, the pump 46 thereafter being circulated upwardly to the well head 24 by downward flow of fluid through both the supply and return tubings 42 and 44. Of course, the fluid above the pump 46 is displaced into the production fluid disposal line 49 as the pump is circulated upwardly. (It will be noted that although the pump carrier 60 was stated to be in its lower operating position during such upward circulation of the pump 46, it may also be in its upper operating position under such conditions to permit unrestricted displacement of fluid from above the pump into the production fluid line 49. However, when the pump 46 reaches the well head 24, the pump carrier 60 is locked in its lower operating position to prevent bypassing the circulating fluid into the production fluid disposal line 49 before the pump is secured by the pump catcher 192.)

Ultimately, the pump 46 enters the pump chamber 62 and engages the pump catcher 192, fluid in the pump chamber above the pump being displaced into the production fluid disposal line 49 through the passage means 186. After the pump 46 has been secured in the pump carrier 60 in this manner, the locking means 136 is released and the pump carrier 60 is moved upwardly into its upper operating position. Thereupon, the valve means is closed, the locking means 140 is released, and the pump carrier 60 is pulled upwardly to the surface. It will be noted that the valves and close automatically to prevent any loss of oil into the water above the well 10.

Once the pump carrier 60 has been hauled aboard the boat, barge, or the like, on the surface, the pump 46 may be removed and replaced by another pump, which can then be run into the well 10 in the manner hereinbefore described.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow.

We claim as our invention:

1. An apparatus for running equipment into and out of a well in a submerged, offshore location, including:

(a) a submerged well head surmounting the well and having an upright, straight passage which is aligned with the well and which has an upright axis extending upwardly from within the Well to the surface of the water;

(b) a movable carrier capable of containing the equipment and connectible to said well head in communication with said passage;

(c) means anchored at its lower end to said well head,

and extending between said well head and the surface of the water above said well headffor guiding said carrier for movement between said well head and the surface of the water thereabove substantially along said axis;

(d) means for connecting said carrier to said well head in communication with said passage;

(e) means for actuating said connecting means to connect said carrier to said well head in communication with said passage and to disconnect said carrier from said well head; and

(f) means for transferring the equipment between said carrier and said passage when said carrier is connected to said well head.

2. An apparatus for running equipment into and out of a Well in a submerged, offshore location, including:

(a) a submerged well head surmounting the well and having a passage aligned with the well;

(b) a movable carrier capable of containing and completely enclosing the equipment and connectible to said well head in communication with said passage;

(c) means extending between the well head and the surface of the water above the well head for guiding said carrier for movement between said well head and the surface of the water thereabove;

((1) means for connecting said carrier to said well head in communication with said passage;

(e) means for actuating said connecting means to connect said carrier to said well head in communication with said passage and to disconnect said carrier from said well head;

(f) valve means carried by said well head for opening and closing said passage; and

(g) means for actuating said valve means to open and close said passage.

3. In an apparatus for running a fluid operated pump into and out of a well in a submerged offshore location,

the combination of:

(a) a submerged well head surmounting the well and 1 1 provided therethrough with a passage in register with the well;

(b) a tubing system in the well and connected to said well head and including a pump tubing of a size to slidably receive the pump therein for movement between said well head and an operating position in the well;

(c) said pump tubing being in register with said passage through said well head;

(d) a movable carrier connectible to said well head in register with said passage therethrough;

(e) means for guiding said carrier between the surface of the water and said well head;

(f) said carrier being provided therein with a pump chamber which -is capable of containing and completely enclosing the pump and which is in alignment with said pump tubing when said carrier is connected to said well head, so as to permit transferring the pump between said pump chamber and said pump tubing;

(g) means for connecting said carrier to said well head with said pump chamber in alignment with said pump tubing; and

(b) means for actuating said connecting means to connect said carrier to and to disconnect said carrier from said well head.

4. In an apparatus for running a fluid operated pump into and out of a well in a submerged, offshore location, the combination of:

(a) a submerged well head surmounting the well and provided therethrough with a passage in register with the well;

(b) a tubing system in the well and connected to said well head and including a pump tubing of a size to slidably receive the pump therein for movement between said well head and an operating position in the well;

(c) said pump tubing being in register with said passage through said well head;

(d) a movable carrier connectible to said well head in register with said passage therethrough;

(e) means for guiding said carrier between the surface of the water and said well head;

(f) said carrier being provided therein with a pump chamber which is capable of containing and completely enclosing the pump and which has an openable lower end in alignment with said pump tubing when said carrier is connected to said well head, so as to permit transferring the pump between said pump chamber and said pump tubing;

(g) means for connecting said carrier to said well head with said pump chamber in allignment with said pump tubing;

(h) means for actuating said connecting means to connect said carrier to and to disconnect said carrier from said well head; and

(i) means for opening said lower end of said pump chamber when said carrier is connected to said well head 5. In an apparatus for running a fluid operated pump into and out of a well in a submerged, offshore location, the combination of:

(a) a submerged well head surmounting the well and provided therethrough with a passage in register with the well;

(b) a tubing system in the well and connected to said well head and including a pump tubing of a size to slidably receive the pump therein for movement between said well head and an operating position in the well;

() said pump tubing being in register with said passage through said well head;

(d) a movable carrier connectible to said well head in register with said passage therethrough;

(e) means for guiding said carrier between the surface of the water and said well head;

(f) said carrier being provided therein with a pump chamber which is capable of containing and completely enclosing the pump and which has an openable lower end in alignment with said pump tubing when said carrier is connected to said well head, so as to permit transferring the pump between said pump chamber and said pump tubing;

(g) means for connecting said carrier to said well head with said pump chamber in alignment with said pump tubing;

(b) means for actuating said connecting means to connect said carrier to and to disconnect said carrier from said wellhead;

(i) means for opening said lower end of said pump chamber when said carrier is connected to said Well head;

(j) valve means carried by said well head for opening and closing said passage therethrough; and

(k) means for actuating said valve means to open and close said passage through said well head.

6. In an apparatus 'for running a fluid operated pump into and out of a well in a submerged, oifshore location, the combination of:

(a) a submerged well head surmounting the well and provided theretihrough with a passage in register with the well;

(b) a tubing system, comprising at least two tubings,

in the well and connected to said well head;

(c) one of the tubings of said tubing system being a pump tubing of a size to slidably receive the pump therein for movement between said well head and an operating position in the well;

(d) said pump tubing also being a production tubing for conveying to said well head production fluid discharged by the pump when it is in its operating position in the well;

(e) another of the tubings of said tubing system being a supply tubing for delivering operating fluid under pressure to the pump when it is in its operating position in the well;

(f) said pump tubing being in register with and com-- municating with said passage through said well head;

g) a movable carrier connectible to said well head in register with said passage therethrough;

(h) means for guiding said carrier between the surface of the water and said well head;

(i) said carrier being provided therein with a pump chamber which is capable of containing and completely enclosing the pump and which has an openable lower end in alignment with said pump tubing when said carrier is connected to said well head, so as to permit transferring the pump between said pump chamber and said pump tubing;

(j) means for connecting said carrier to said well head with said pump chamber in alignment with said pump tubing;

(k) means for actuating said connecting means to connect said carrier to and to disconnect said carrier from said well head;

(1) means for opening :said lower end of said pump chamber when said carrier is connected to said well head;

(m) valve means carried by said well head for opening and closing said passage therethrough; and

(11) means for actuating said valve means to open and close said passage through said well head.

7. In an apparatus for running a fluid operated pump pump into and out of a well in a submerged, offshore location, the combination of:

(a) a submerged well head surmounting the well and provided therethrough with a passage in register with the well;

(b) a tubing system, comprising at least two tubings,

in the well and connected to said well head;

(0) one of the tubings of said tubing system being a 13 pump tubing of a size to slidably receive the pump therein for movement between said well head and and operating position in the well;

((1) said pump tubing also being a production tubing for conveying to said well head production fluid discharged by the pump when it is in its operating position in the well;

(e) another of the tubings of said tubing system being a supply tubing for delivering operating fluid under pressure to the pump when it is in its operating position in the Well;

(f) said pump tubing being in register with and communicating with said passage through said well head;

(g) a movable carrier connectible to said well (head in register with said passage therethrough;

(h) means for guiding said carrier between the surface of the water and said well head;

(i) said carrier being provided therein with a pump chamber which is capable of containing and completely enclosing the pump and which has an openable lower end in alignment with said pump tubing when said carrier is connected to said well head, so as to permit transferring the pump between said pump chamber and said pump tubing;

(j) means for connecting said carrier to said well head with said pump chamber in alignment with said pump tubing;

(k) means for actuating said connecting means to connect said carrier to and to disconnect said carrier from said well head;

(1) means for opening said lower end of said pump chamber when said carrier is connected to said well head;

(m) valve means carried by :said well head for opening and closing said Ipassage therethrough;

(n) means for actuating said valve means to open and close said passage through said well head; and

(o) a production fluid disposal line connected to said well head in communication with said passage to receive production fluid entering said passage from said pump tubing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,233,666 2/1966 Geer et al. 166-.5 3,326,285 6/1967 Coberly 166.6 2,783,970 3/1957 Gillespie 6146.5 X 2,756,021 7/1956 Townsend et a1 1758 3,021,909 2/1962 Postlewaite 1757 3,063,507 11/1962 ONeill et al. 166-.5 X 3,247,914 4/1966 Slack 166.5 X 3,294,185 12/1966 ONeill et al. 1758 JAMES A. LEPPINK, Primary Examiner.

R. E. FAVREAU, Assistant Examiner. 

